Detachable attaching member for a knotted necktie

ABSTRACT

A detachable attaching member may be used to securely attach a knotted necktie to a collar of a shirt or other apparel. The detachable attaching member may include an insert-ring portion, a connector portion, and a fitting portion. The insert-ring portion of the detachable attaching member may be fitted through an outer portion and an inner portion of a necktie to be positioned between an outer knot portion and an inner knot portion of a knotted necktie. The connector portion may extend towards the inner knot portion and the fitting portion may be securely attached to a neck portion of a shirt or other apparel. The detachable attaching member may further include a shaping portion for maintaining a desired shape of the knot of the knotted necktie.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from Korean patent applicationno. 20-0212062, filed Nov. 17, 2000, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a detachable attaching memberfor a necktie, in particular, to a detachable attaching member forattaching a knotted necktie to a shirt or other apparel therebyproviding comfort to a user of the knotted necktie.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Traditional neckties are knotted around a user's neck. Generally,a necktie is wrapped snuggly around the user's neck area and knotted ata center of the neck area. Neckties are generally worn with suits or adress shirt. A shirt and tie assemble may be required at a work placeand are appropriate for formal events. Neckties include the traditionalform (e.g., a long vertical front with a widen area ending at a tip) aswell as a bow tie. Other forms may exist.

[0004] Generally, some effort and time are required to properly knot atie. It may also be considered difficult for some users to adjust theshape of the knot neatly or according to the preference of the user.Adjustment may be required to properly position an outer portion of thenecktie to be longer than a thinner inner portion of the necktie. Inaddition, discomfort around the neck area is generally associated with asnuggly fitted necktie around a user's neck.

[0005] These and other drawbacks exist with traditional neckties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the present invention, a detachable attaching memberfor attaching a knotted necktie to a neck portion of a shirt, comprisesan insert-ring portion positioned between an outer knot portion of theknotted necktie and an inner knot portion of the knotted necktie; aconnector portion having a first end connected to the insert-ringportion, the connector portion extending towards the inner knot portionof the knotted necktie; and a fitting portion connected to a second endof the connector portion, the fitting portion securely attaching theknotted necktie to the neck portion of the shirt.

[0007] The detachable attaching member may further comprise a hingeportion for connecting the fitting portion to the second end of theconnector portion, wherein the hinge portion comprises a plurality ofindentations for elastically engaging the fitting portion and theconnector portion. The fitting portion may be pivoted about the hingeportion for securely attaching to the neck portion. The detachableattaching member may further comprise a shaping portion attached to theinsert-ring portion, the shaping portion supporting the inner knotportion in a substantially V-shaped position; wherein the shapingportion is adjustable and wherein the attaching member comprisessynthetic resin.

[0008] The present invention will now be described in more detail withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the appendeddrawings. While the present invention is described below with referenceto preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the arthaving access to the teachings herein will recognize additionalimplementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fieldsof use, which are within the scope of the present invention as disclosedand claimed herein, and with respect to which the present inventioncould be of significant utility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a view of a knotted necktie with a detachable attachingmember according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a knotted necktie with a detachableattaching member according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is an example of a hinge portion of a detachable attachingmember according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 4 is an example of a detachable attaching member according toan embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 5 is an example of a necktie for use with a detachableattaching member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 6 illustrates a process of knotting the necktie and couplinga detachably attaching member to the necktie according to an embodimentof the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a view of a configuration of an alternative embodimentof the detachably attaching member of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a detachable attaching member 20 of thepresent invention may be used to securely attach a knotted necktie to acollar of a shirt or other apparel. The detachable attaching member 20may be positioned between an outer knot portion 15 and an inner knotportion 16 of necktie 10. A knotted necktie 10 may include an outerportion 11, inner portion 12, outer knotted portion 15 and inner knottedportion 16, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 illustrates another view of anecktie, which may include an outer portion 11, a connector portion 13and an inner portion 12.

[0017] An inner portion 12 may be draped down from the inner knotportion 16 and positioned under the outer portion 11. The connectorportion 13 may connect the outer portion 11 and the inner portion 12,and may be positioned behind the upper end of the necktie when the knotis formed. While the connector portion 13 may be varied in dimension ofwidth and length according to the size of the knot, connector 13 mayhave a preferred length of approximately 70 mm and a preferred width ofapproximately 5 mm.

[0018] The detachably attaching member 20 may include an insert-ringportion 21, a connector portion 22, a fitting portion 23 as well asshaping portions 25, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0019] The insert-ring portion 21 may be inserted between the inner knotportion 16 and the outer knot portion 15 of the knotted necktie 10. Forexample, the insert-ring portion 21 may include a front part (e.g., adistal end from connector portion 22) having a shape of an ellipse orother similar shape (e.g., a rounded heart). For example, theinsert-ring portion 21 may have a preferred length from top to bottom ofapproximately 35 mm, and may be backwardly inclined at about 10°, asshown in FIG. 7.

[0020] The connector portion 22 of the detachable attaching member 20may be projected from a rear part (e.g., a proximal end to connectorportion 22) of the insert-ring portion 21 at an angle of approximately60°, as shown in FIG. 6, and may have a preferred length ofapproximately 20 mm. The fitting portion 23 may be provided at an end ofthe connector portion 22, as shown in FIG. 4. The connector portion 22may have a thickness and a width which may be varied according to thetype of material used. For example, the connector portion 22 may have apreferred thickness of approximately 5 mm and a preferred width ofapproximately 10 mm.

[0021] The fitting portion 23 may be inserted behind a front neckportion 30 of a shirt or other apparel, and may securely fit the knottednecktie 10 to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt. While the fittingportion 23 is shown connected to the connector portion 22 via a hingeportion 24, the present invention is not necessarily restricted to thisconfiguration. The fitting portion 23 may be made of a flexible materialwith a degree of elasticity and plasticity so that the fitting portion23 may maintain the fitted position or other attached position under asmall amount of force. The fitting portion 23 may have a thickness and awidth that may be varied according to the materials used. For example,if made of plastic (or other similar material), the fitting portion 23may have a substantially similar thickness as that of the connectorportion 22. In another example, the width of the fitting portion 23 maypreferably be of a width wider than that of the connector portion 22.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, after the inner knot portion 16 and the outerknot portion 15 of the necktie 10 are formed, the insert-ring portion 21may be inserted through the outer portion 11 and the inner portion 12from the lower ends. Then, the insert-ring portion 21 may be movedupward and inserted between the outer knot portion 15 and the inner knotportion 16 so that the fitting portion 23 passes above an upper end ofthe inner knot portion 16 to be positioned backward. The fitting portion23 may be subsequently attached securely to a front neck portion of ashirt or other apparel. For example, the knotted necktie 10 may beformed so that the outer knot portion 15 and the inner knot portion 16are provided at a top end of the outer portion 11 along a side of theconnector portion 13.

[0023] In attaching a knotted necktie with a detachable attachingmember, the fitting portion 23 of the detachable attaching member 20 maybe hooked on a front neck portion 30 of the shirt (or other apparel). Indetaching the knotted necktie, the fitting portion 23 may be releasedfrom the front neck portion 30 of the shirt. Due to its flexibility, thefitting portion 23 may be bent to securely attach to the front neckportion 30 of the shirt.

[0024]FIG. 3 illustrates details of a hinge portion 24, according to anembodiment of the present invention. The hinge portion 24 may includeindentations 22 a and 23 a formed at opposed ends of the connectorportion 22 and the fitting portion 23 to be elastically engaged to eachother so as to fix the fitting portion 23 at a desired angle in order tosecurely and firmly attach the detachably attaching member 20 to thefront neck portion 30 of the shirt. The fitting portion 23 may bepreferably pivoted at an angle of 90° or smaller so that the front neckportion 30 of the shirt is sandwiched between the fitting portion 23 andthe inner knot portion 16.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, theinsert-ring portion may further include a shaping portion 25. Theshaping portion 25 enables the insert-ring portion 21 to be contractedand shaped accordingly by applying pressure to the shaping portion 25.The shaping portion 25 may be implemented to support the inner knotportion 16. The shaping portion 25 may have a substantially V-shapedconfiguration. The shaping portion 25 may be formed integral with theinsert-ring portion 21. In addition, the shaping portion 25 may beformed separate from the insert-ring portion 21 so as to be inserted andfixed into a knotted tie. For example, the shaping portion 25 may bewidened at a preferred front angle of 70 to 80° as shown in FIG. 2 andat an angle of 40° about the insert-ring portion 21 as in FIG. 7.

[0026] In another example, the connector portion 22 and/or the fittingportion 23 of the detachable attaching member 20 may be substantiallyV-shaped, according to another embodiment of the detachable attachingmember 20. In this example, the fitting portion 23 may be fitted at bothsides to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt so that the knottednecktie may be attached securely.

[0027]FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the detachable attachingmember of the invention. As shown in FIG. 7, an inclined shaping portion25 may be projected approximately 2 cm above the knotted necktie. Marksmay be formed in the shaping portions 25 so that the shaping portion 25may be adjusted (e.g., cut) to a suitable (or preferred) length for auser. The shaping portion 25 may be fitted at a neck portion of a shirtfor obtaining a more stable configuration. When the neck portion ispressed or the attachment/detachment is inconvenient, the shapingportion 25 can be cut into the suitable length according to the marks.

[0028] The detachably attaching member may be made of synthetic resinwhich may be easily injection molded at a low cost. Other materials maybe used for the detachable attaching member in accordance with thepresent invention. The lengths of the outer portion and the innerportion of the necktie may be varied as desired by a user.

[0029] While the invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A detachable attaching member for attaching a knotted necktie to aneck portion of a shirt, comprising: an insert-ring portion positionedbetween an outer knot portion of the knotted necktie and an inner knotportion of the knotted necktie; a connector portion having a first endconnected to the insert-ring portion, the connector portion extendingtowards the inner knot portion of the knotted necktie; and a fittingportion connected to a second end of the connector portion, the fittingportion securely attaching the knotted necktie to the neck portion ofthe shirt.
 2. The member of claim 1, further comprising a hinge portionfor connecting the fitting portion to the second end of the connectorportion.
 3. The member of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion comprises aplurality of indentations for elastically engaging the fitting portionand the connector portion.
 4. The member of claim 2, wherein the fittingportion is pivoted about the hinge portion for securely attaching to theneck portion.
 5. The member of claim 1, further comprising a shapingportion attached to the insert-ring portion, the shaping portionsupporting the inner knot portion in a substantially V-shaped position.6. The member of claim 5, wherein the shaping portion is adjustable. 7.The member of claim 1, wherein the attaching member comprises syntheticresin.